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Abstract:

An information processing apparatus that includes a touch panel unit that
detects a touch input; an application control unit that sets one of a
plurality of application programs to an active state as an active-state
application program; a profile information acquiring unit that acquires
profile information corresponding to the active-state application
program; and a parameter updating unit that sets a detection parameter of
the touch panel unit based on the profile information.

Claims:

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a touch panel unit
that detects a touch input; an application control unit that sets one of
a plurality of application programs to an active state as an active-state
application program; a profile information acquiring unit that acquires
profile information corresponding to the active-state application
program; and a parameter setting unit that sets a detection parameter of
the touch panel unit based on the profile information.

2. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile
information is information for optimizing the detection parameter of the
touch panel unit for the active-state application program.

3. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
active-state application program includes the profile information, and
the profile information acquiring unit acquires the profile information
from the active-state application program.

4. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the
plurality of application programs include profile information, and the
profile information acquiring unit acquires the profile information from
the active-state application program of the plurality of application
programs.

5. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile
information includes the detection parameter that is updated by the
parameter updating unit.

6. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection
parameter is a firmware setting of the touch panel unit.

8. The information processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the parameter
setting unit sets the detection parameter of the touch panel unit by
replacing existing instructions of the firmware of the touch panel unit
with the profile information converted by the profile information
acquiring unit.

9. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile
information includes information for setting, as the detection parameter,
a sensitivity threshold for detecting the touch input.

10. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile
information includes information for setting, as the detection parameter,
a number of times for confirming detection of the touch input.

11. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile
information includes information for setting, as the detection parameter,
a reporting rate defining a speed at which a detected touch input is
output by the touch panel unit.

12. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile
information includes information identifying sets of coordinate values,
which each correspond to different pixel areas of a display panel on
which a surface of the touch panel unit is arranged.

13. The information processing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the profile
information includes information for setting, as the detection parameter,
a sensitivity threshold for detecting the touch input for each of the
different pixel areas.

14. The information processing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the profile
information includes information for setting, as the detection parameter,
a number of times for confirming detection of the touch input for each of
the different pixel areas.

15. The information processing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the profile
information includes information for setting, as the detection parameter,
a reporting rate defining a speed at which a detected touch input is
output by the touch panel unit for each of the different pixel areas.

16. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
plurality of application programs include a standby menu application
program, a game application program and a keyboard application program.

17. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile
information of each of the plurality of application programs includes
information for setting, as the detection parameter, a sensitivity
threshold for detecting the touch input at the touch panel unit, wherein
the sensitivity threshold setting is different for each of the plurality
of application programs.

18. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile
information of each of the plurality of application programs includes
information for setting, as the detection parameter, a reporting rate
defining a speed at which a detected touch input is output by the touch
panel unit, wherein the reporting rate setting is different for each of
the plurality of application programs.

19. A method performed by an information processing apparatus, the method
comprising: setting one of a plurality of application programs of the
information processing apparatus to an active state as an active-state
application program; acquiring profile information corresponding to the
active-state application program; and setting a detection parameter of a
touch panel unit that detects a touch input based on the profile
information.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-program
instructions, which when executed by an information processing apparatus,
cause the information processing apparatus to perform a method
comprising: setting one of a plurality of application programs of the
information processing apparatus to an active state as an active-state
application program; acquiring profile information corresponding to the
active-state application program; and setting a detection parameter of a
touch panel unit that detects a touch input based on the profile
information.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of the earlier filing
date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/478,101 filed on
Apr. 22, 2011, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by
reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosure

[0003] The present disclosure relates to an information processing
apparatus that includes a touch panel and can execute processing of
various application programs after recognizing an instruction input from
users by detecting a position touched with a finger of the users or the
like.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005]FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a software configuration of a
conventional information processing apparatus that includes a touch panel
and can execute processing of various application programs after
recognizing an instruction input from users by detecting a position
touched with a finger of the users or the like.

[0006] In this FIG. 11, a launcher active manager 201 launches an
application program. FIG. 11 gives an example in which one of a standby
menu application program 202, a game application program 203, and a
software keyboard application program 204 is launched as an example.

[0007] If there is an input event, such as touch by a user, a touch panel
210 outputs coordinate data for the input event to a touch driver 209.
Meanwhile, for example, sensitivity for detecting the input event, a rate
of reporting the input event, a number of times for confirming the event,
and so forth are set to parameters that provide the highest design
performance of the device in order that the touch panel 210 can handle
all application programs used in the information processing apparatus.

[0008] The coordinate data output from the touch panel 210 is sent to a
window manager 205 through the touch driver 209.

[0009] The window manager 205 is located at an upper layer, which is
implemented in a language, such as Java (trademark), for example. For
example, the input event is calculated from the coordinate data in a raw
event calculator 206. Filtering processing of the input event
corresponding to the application program is performed in a filter
optimizer 208. Gesture determination processing of the input event is
performed in a gesture detector 207. The window manager 205 then notifies
the application program of information having undergone each processing.

[0010] Using the information received from the window manager 205, the
application program determines the event input by the users and performs
processing, such as extraction processing for extracting the information
to be used in the application program. In this way, the application
program can execute processing corresponding to the event input by the
user.

SUMMARY

[0011] Meanwhile, in a case of the aforementioned example of the software
configuration of the conventional information processing apparatus
illustrated in FIG. 11, parameters providing the highest design
performance of the device are set in order that the touch panel can
handle all usable application programs as described before. Various kinds
of calculations, determination processing, extraction processing, and so
forth are performed for processing an input event at the upper layer,
such as the window manager, before application processing corresponding
to an event input by a user is executed. Accordingly, an amount of the
calculation processing for the input event expands at the upper layer and
the upper layer significantly consumes CPU resources and also consumes
lots of electric power.

[0012] Additionally, conventional methods for improving the operability
and the recognition rate of touch panels are directed to an improvement
that completes in the device or an application directly providing user
experience. A method that is optimized as an integrated system including
a device and an application, for example, has not been proposed.

[0013] Furthermore, when various applications are executed in an
information processing apparatus including a touch panel, specifications
and performance required for the touch panel differ depending on which
application is being executed. Accordingly, when uniform optimization
methods intended for supporting existing devices and firmware are
adopted, an increase in power consumption may be led or processing load
of a CPU may increase, for example, depending on the application executed
by the information processing apparatus.

[0014] Based on these, the inventor recognizes the desirability of
optimizing the operability and the recognition rate of a touch panel not
with a uniform optimization method intended for supporting existing
devices and firmware but as an integrated system including a device and
an application, for example.

[0015] According to a first exemplary embodiment the disclosure is
directed to an information processing apparatus that includes a touch
panel unit that detects a touch input; an application control unit that
sets one of a plurality of application programs to an active state as an
active-state application program; a profile information acquiring unit
that acquires profile information corresponding to the active-state
application program; and a parameter updating unit that sets a detection
parameter of the touch panel unit based on the profile information.

[0016] According to another exemplary embodiment, the disclosure is
directed to a method performed by an information processing apparatus.
The method including setting one of a plurality of application programs
of the information processing apparatus to an active state as an
active-state application program; acquiring profile information
corresponding to the active-state application program; and setting a
detection parameter of a touch panel unit that detects a touch input
based on the profile information.

[0017] According to another exemplary embodiment, the disclosure is
directed to a non-transitory computer-readable medium including
computer-program instructions, which when executed by an information
processing apparatus, cause the information processing apparatus to
perform a method. The method including setting one of a plurality of
application programs of the information processing apparatus to an active
state as an active-state application program; acquiring profile
information corresponding to the active-state application program; and
setting a detection parameter of a touch panel unit that detects a touch
input based on the profile information.

[0018] In this way, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention, it is possible to optimize operability and a recognition rate
of a touch panel not with a uniform optimization method intended for
supporting existing devices and firmware but as an integrated system
including, for example, a device and an application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a software
configuration that optimizes requirements and performance of a touch
panel in accordance with an active-state application in an embodiment of
the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen
when a standby menu application program is in the active state in the
embodiment.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen
when a game application program is in the active state in the embodiment.

[0022]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen
when a software keyboard application program is in the active state in
the embodiment.

[0023]FIG. 5 is a diagram for use in a description of sensitivity at an
area of a software keyboard and at the other area when the software
keyboard application program is in the active state in the embodiment.

[0024]FIG. 6 is a diagram for use in a description of a setting example
of sensitivity, a number of times of confirmation, and a reporting rate
for each application program in the embodiment.

[0025]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of
profile information prepared for each application program in the
embodiment.

[0026]FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing
sequence in the software configuration of the embodiment.

[0027]FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration
realizing update of parameters of a touch panel using profile information
of an active-state application program, detection of an input event by
the touch panel, and execution of processing of the application program
corresponding to the input event in a mobile information terminal of the
embodiment.

[0028]FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an overview
of an overall internal configuration of the mobile information terminal
of the embodiment.

[0029]FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software
configuration of a conventional information processing apparatus capable
of executing processing of various application programs after recognizing
an instruction input from users by detecting a position touched with a
finger of the user or the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] An embodiment to which that an information processing apparatus of
the present disclosure is applied will be described below with reference
to the drawings.

[0031] In this embodiment, a high-performance mobile information terminal
including a touch panel on a display screen is used as an example of the
information processing apparatus.

[0032] [Overview of Usability Optimization at time of Use of Touch Panel]

[0033] The mobile information terminal of this embodiment can execute
various application programs and can optimize requirements and
performance of the touch panel in accordance with a launched active-state
application program.

[0034]FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of a software configuration for
optimizing the requirements and the performance of the touch panel in
accordance with the active-state application. As an example of
application programs executing processing corresponding to operations on
the touch panel (input events), FIG. 1 illustrates a standby menu
application program 2, a game application program 3, and a software
keyboard application program 4. Obviously, those application programs are
merely examples and embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited
to these application examples.

[0035] In this software configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, a launcher
active manager 1 executes launching of an application program, switching,
for example, one of a plurality of launched application programs into an
active state, and so forth. An example of launching or switching one of
the standby menu application program 2, the game application program 3,
and the software keyboard application program 4 into the active state is
illustrated in this FIG. 1.

[0036] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the standby menu application
program 2 is a program to be in the active state when the mobile
information terminal of this embodiment is in a standby state. As an
example, a standby program of mobile phone terminals or the like can be
given. When the standby menu application program 2 is in the active
state, various menu icons 21, for example, are displayed on a display
screen 20. Once a user touches the intended menu icon 21 with their
finger 22 or the like on the display screen 20, the mobile information
terminal executes processing of a menu corresponding to the icon 21
instructed through the touch event.

[0037] Here, when the standby menu application program 2 is in the active
state, it is considered that a requirement increases for response speed
for the user's first touching of the touch panel. Accordingly, when the
standby menu application program 2 is in the active state, setting of the
touch panel for the first touch event on the touch panel is desirably
made so that the response speed of the touch panel increases, for
example. On the other hand, in a case of a continuous input event, such
as drag on the touch panel, for example, it is considered that the user
hardly feels a change in the response speed physically even if the
response speed is decreased more or less, for example. Accordingly,
setting of the touch panel for the continuous input event, such as drag,
is desirably made so that more emphasis is placed on a reduction in power
consumption by lowering an input-event reporting rate, for example, than
the increase in the response speed by raising the input-event reporting
rate, for example.

[0038] Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 3, for example, the game
application program 3 is a program to be in the active state when a game
is executed in the mobile information terminal of this embodiment. When
the game application program 3 is in the active state, a game screen is
displayed on a display screen 23. During execution of the game, various
input events, such as touch and drag 24, are performed from the user. The
mobile information terminal executes game processing corresponding to
those input events.

[0039] Here, when the game application program 3 is in the active state,
it is considered that high performance is required for sensitivity and
processing speed of the whole touch panel, for example. It is also
considered that the necessity for placing more emphasis on the reduction
in power consumption is low. Furthermore, it is considered that the high
performance is similarly required for the continuous input event, such
as, for example, drag. Accordingly, when the game application program 3
is in the active state, setting of the touch panel is desirably made so
that the sensitivity and the processing speed of the whole touch panel
increase and the reporting rate of the continuous input event, such as
drag, is also maintained at a high rate.

[0040] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 4, for example, the software
keyboard application program 4 is a program to be in the active state
when a software keyboard is displayed on a screen so as to make an input
event on the software keyboard detectable. More specifically, when the
software keyboard application program 4 is in the active state, a
software keyboard in which each key icon 26 is arranged is displayed on a
display screen 25. When a user touches the intended key icon 26 of the
software keyboard on the display screen 25 with their finger 22 or the
like, the mobile information terminal executes input processing of a
character and so forth corresponding to the key icon 26, input of which
is instructed through the touch event.

[0041] Here, when the software keyboard application program 4 is in the
active state, it is considered that the touch panel is required to be
able to correctly and highly accurately detect each key icon 26 of the
software keyboard touched by the user without making any mistakes, for
example. On the other hand, it is considered that actual key input speed
by the user is much lower than the input-event reporting rate of the
touch panel, for example. Accordingly, when the software keyboard
application program 4 is in the active state, it is desirable to set the
input-event reporting rate to a given slow level that is necessary and
sufficient for the key input speed by the user. On the other hand, it is
desirable to set a touch-event confirmation processing for determining
that a touch event is performed on the key icon by the user when the
touch event is detected from the same key icon a plurality of times at
the input-event reporting rate, for example. In addition, for example, as
illustrated in FIG. 5, it is desirable to raise detection sensitivity by
increasing the input-event reporting rate for each key icon 26 of the
software keyboard compared to that of another area 27 and to lower the
sensitivity by decreasing the input-event reporting rate in the area 27
excluding each key icon 26 so that unnecessary wrong event detection is
avoided.

[0042] Based on the description above, the specs and the performance
required for the touch panel are desirably set as illustrated in FIG. 6,
for example, when each of the aforementioned applications is in the
active state.

[0043] More specifically, in FIG. 6, when the standby menu application
program 2 is in the active state, touch-event detection setting is
enabled on the whole display screen and the input-event detection
sensitivity is set to high because the drag of a menu icon and so forth
may be performed. Additionally, the number of times for confirming the
input event is set to, for example, once because the performance is more
emphasized. In addition, the input-event reporting rate is set to a
maximum reporting rate because smoothness in a drag event, for example,
is more emphasized.

[0044] Additionally, in FIG. 6, when the game application program 3 is in
the active state, the input-event detection sensitivity is set to high
sensitivity on the whole screen for a game for which the input event can
be desirably detected on the whole display screen, whereas the
sensitivity optimized for the area used by the game is set for a game for
which the screen-wide input-event detection is unnecessary but only a
specific area is used. The number of times of confirming the input event
is set to, for example, once because the performance is more emphasized.
The input-event reporting rate is set depending on game content, for
example, but it is generally set to the highest reporting rate. However,
when the game is used at a specific area, the reporting rate is set low
in an area other than the specific area in order to reduce load of a CPU.

[0045] In addition, in FIG. 6, when the software keyboard application
program 4 is in the active state, the input-event detection sensitivity
is set to high sensitivity for part of the key icons, whereas the
input-event detection sensitivity is lowered or disabled for an area
other than the key icons. Regarding the number of times of confirming the
input event, the number of times of event confirmation processing is set
to a plurality of times (e.g., three times) for the key icon part. Since
key input by the user can be sufficiently detected with, for example, a
reporting rate of approximately 30 Hz, the input-event reporting rate is
set to low in consideration of a reduction in power consumption.

[0046] In order to realize providing of seamless and optimum usability by
optimizing the requirements and the performance of the touch panel in
accordance with the active-state application program as described above,
profile information for optimizing the whole system is introduced for
each application program in this embodiment.

[0047] More specifically, the profile information of each application
program is information for setting, for each application program, the
input-event detection sensitivity, the number of times of input-event
confirmation, and the input-event reporting rate in the touch panel as
in, for example, FIG. 6 described above. In the example case of FIG. 1,
profile information 2a for optimizing the touch panel for the program is
prepared for the standby menu application program 2. Similarly, profile
information 3a for optimizing the touch panel for the program is prepared
for the game application program 3. Profile information 4a for optimizing
the touch panel for the program is prepared for the software keyboard
application program 4.

[0048]FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a schematic configuration of the
profile information.

[0049] More specifically, this FIG. 7 illustrates an example of
touch-panel profile information for a display screen of 480×854
pixels, for example. The profile information is constituted by parameters
of X and Y coordinates corresponding to each pixel of the display, a
threshold of the input-event detection sensitivity (threshold), a number
of times of confirmation for use in confirming the input event
(debounce), and the input-event reporting rate (reporting rate).

[0050] As in this example of FIG. 7, the profile information of this
embodiment is information that can set the parameters of the threshold of
the sensitivity, the number of times of confirmation, and the reporting
rate in units of pixels, for example, as operation input detection
conditions when the touch panel detects an operation input from the user.

[0051] Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the launcher active manger
1 sends the profile information of the active-state application to a
window manager 5 upon launching or switching one of the above-described
application programs into the active state.

[0052] The window manager 5 having received the profile information from
the launcher active manager 1 sends the profile information to a touch
driver 9 through a profile interface 8.

[0053] The touch driver 9 having received the profile information from the
window manager 5 sends the profile information to a touch panel 11
through a profile interface 10.

[0054] The touch panel 11 having received the profile information from the
touch driver 9 updates parameters of firmware using the profile
information with a profile interface 12. In this way, setting of the
touch panel 11 is optimized for the specifications and the performance
required by the active-state application program. More specifically, the
input-event detection sensitivity, the number of times of input-event
confirmation, the input-event reporting rate, and so forth of the touch
panel 11 are set to setting optimized for the active-state application
program as described before in FIG. 6, for example.

[0055] Accordingly, when there is a user input event on the touch panel
11, coordinate data optimized for the active-state application program is
output from the touch panel 11. That is, the touch panel 11 outputs the
coordinate data that corresponds to the sensitivity, the reporting rate,
and the number of times of confirmation, that is optimally handled by the
application program, and based on which the active-state application
program can accurately and rapidly determine the input event.

[0056] The coordinate data output from the touch panel 11 is sent to the
active-state application program through the profile interface 10 of the
touch driver 9 and further through the profile interface 8 of the window
manager 5. That is, in a case of this embodiment, the active-state
application program is supplied with the coordinate data corresponding to
the optimum sensitivity, the reporting rate, and the number of times of
confirmation as described before.

[0057] In this way, the active-state application program can execute
processing corresponding to the input event of the coordinate data for
which the sensitivity, the number of times of confirmation, and the
reporting rate are optimized in the touch panel 11.

[0058] Meanwhile, a raw event calculator 6 and a gesture detector 7 of the
window manager 5 may be unused in the mobile information terminal of this
embodiment in a state where the parameters are optimized using the
profile information as described before. More specifically, in the case
of this embodiment, since the necessity of performing processing, such as
one by the aforementioned window manager 205 of FIG. 11, is low in the
window manager 5 and so forth, load of a CPU is reduced, whereby power
consumption can be also reduced.

[Example of Processing Sequence in Software Configuration of Embodiment]

[0059]FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a processing sequence in the
software configuration illustrated in FIG. 1. This example of the
processing sequence of FIG. 8 illustrates a flow of a case where an
application program A is first launched, profile information of the
application A is downloaded to the touch panel 11 in response to the
activation, the active-state application program is then switched to an
application program B, and firmware of the touch panel 11 is updated
based on profile information of the application program B.

[0060] In this FIG. 8, once the launcher active manger 1 launches, for
example, the application A, the profile information of the application
program A is sent to the touch driver 9 through the profile interface 8
of the window manager 5.

[0061] The touch driver 9 converts the profile information into
information compliant with the firmware of the touch panel 11 with the
profile interface 10. The converted profile information is sent to the
touch panel 11.

[0062] The touch panel 11 updates the parameters based on the converted
profile information supplied from the touch driver 9. In this way,
setting of the touch panel 11 is optimized for the application program A.
After the update completes, the touch panel 11 returns, to the touch
driver 9, a response signal indicating that preparation for reporting an
input event has completed.

[0063] Thereafter, scanning for detecting an input event starts in the
touch panel 11. Upon detecting the input event from the user, the touch
panel 11 outputs coordinate data for the input event to the touch driver
9.

[0064] The coordinate data of the input event is sent to the application
program A from the touch driver 9 through the window manager 5. In this
way, the application program A recognizes the input event and executes
processing corresponding to the input event.

[0065] The processing from scanning of the input event to execution of the
corresponding processing by the application program A is repeated until
the application program A terminates.

[0066] When the launcher active manager 1 then launches the application
program B after terminating the application program A, for example, the
profile information of the application program B is sent to the touch
driver 9 through the profile interface 8 of the window manager 5.

[0067] In the touch driver 9, the profile interface 10 converts the
profile information of the application program B into information
compliant with the firmware of the touch panel 11. The converted profile
information is sent to the touch panel 11.

[0068] The touch panel 11 updates the parameters based on the converted
profile information supplied from the touch driver 9. In this way, the
setting of the touch panel 11 is optimized for the application program B.
After the update of the parameters completes, the touch panel 11 returns,
to the touch driver 9, a response signal indicating preparation for
reporting an input event has completed.

[0069] Thereafter, scanning for detecting an input event starts in the
touch panel 11. Upon detecting the input event from the user, the touch
panel 11 outputs coordinate data for the input event to the touch driver
9.

[0070] The coordinate data of the input event is sent to the application
program B from the touch driver 9 through the window manager 5. In this
way, the application program B recognizes the input event and executes
processing corresponding to the input event.

[0071] The processing from scanning of the input event and to execution of
the corresponding processing by the application program B is repeated
until the application program B terminates.

[Configuration of Major Part of Mobile Information Terminal]

[0072]FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration
realizing update of the parameters of the touch panel using the
above-described profile information of the active-state application
program, detection of an input event by the touch panel whose parameters
are updated, and execution of processing of the application program
corresponding to the input event in the mobile information terminal of
the embodiment.

[0073] In this FIG. 9, a host side 30 of the mobile information terminal
includes, as major components relating to this embodiment, a program/data
storage unit 31, a main CPU 33, and an interface unit 40 to be connected
to a touch-panel side 50.

[0074] The program/data storage unit 31 of the host side 30 is, for
example, an internal memory or the like of the mobile information
terminal of this embodiment and stores various application programs 32,
such as the aforementioned ones for the standby menu, the game, and the
software keyboard, and data used by those programs. Suppose that, in this
example case of FIG. 9, the program/data storage unit 31 stores an
application program A and profile information "a" thereof, an application
program B and profile information "b" thereof, and an application program
C and profile information "c" thereof. These application programs 32 and
the data are stored in the program/data storage unit 31 before factory
shipment of the mobile information terminal of this embodiment or are
acquired via various communication networks, such as, for example, the
Internet, a semiconductor memory, a disk recording medium, and so forth
and stored in the program/data storage unit 31.

[0075] The main CPU 33 of the host side 30 operates based on an OS
(operating system) and has a function of each of a terminal
control/arithmetic unit 38, a program/data storage control unit 34, an
application execution unit 35, a coordinate-event conversion calculation
unit 36, a touch driver 39, and an interface processing unit 37.

[0076] The program/data storage control unit 34 controls writing and
reading of the application programs/data to and from the program/data
storage unit 31, respectively. For example, when an instruction for
launching an intended application program is input from a user, the
program/data storage control unit 34 serves as the launcher active
manager 1 to read out the intended application program.

[0077] The application program intended by the user is read out from the
program/data storage unit 31 and the application program is loaded and
formed in an internal memory, whereby the application execution unit 35
can execute the application program.

[0079] The interface processing unit 37 performs data
transmission/reception processing with the touch-panel side 50 connected
through the interface unit 40 supporting so-called SPI/I2C, for example.
In a case of this embodiment, the interface processing unit 37 performs
processing for outputting the above-described profile information to the
touch-panel side 50 and processing for receiving the coordinate data sent
from the touch-panel side 50. Meanwhile, the host side 30 can control
setting values of firmware of the touch-panel side 50. In this
embodiment, update of the profile information can be realized in a form
of expanding a mechanism thereof.

[0080] A coordinate-event conversion calculation unit 36 determines an
input event from the coordinate data sent from the touch-panel side 50.
Information on the input event is sent to the application execution unit
35. In this way, the application execution unit 35 can execute processing
corresponding to the input event.

[0081] The terminal control/arithmetic unit 38 executes control of the
entirety of the mobile information terminal and various kinds of
arithmetic processing. In a case of this embodiment, the
control/arithmetic unit 38 has a function of the aforementioned window
manager 5, for example.

[0082] The touch-panel side 50 includes, as major components, a touch
screen 58, a touch-panel CPU 53, an interface unit 60 to be connected to
the host side 30, and a firmware storage unit 51.

[0083] The touch screen 58 is a capacitive touch screen sensor, for
example. The touch screen 58 scans and detects a touched position and so
forth upon being touched with a finger of users or the like.

[0084] The touch-panel CPU 53 is a CPU for executing firmware. The
touch-panel CPU 53 calculates a position of the touching finger, the
number of touching fingers, and so forth based on a capacitance value
detected by the touch screen 58. Meanwhile, information on the position
of the touching finger and the number of the touching fingers is sent to
the host side 30 through the SPI/I2C or the like.

[0085] An event coordinate scanning unit 57 of the touch-panel CPU 53
scans user input on the touch screen 58 and generates coordinate data of
the input event when there is a user input event.

[0086] A touch-panel operation control unit 54 controls operations of each
unit of the touch-panel side 50.

[0087] An interface processing unit 56 performs data
transmission/reception processing with the host side 30 connected through
the interface unit 60 supporting so-called SPI/I2C, for example. In a
case of this embodiment, the interface processing unit 56 performs
processing for receiving the aforementioned profile information sent from
the host side 30, processing for sending the coordinate data to the host
side 30, and so forth.

[0088] A firmware storage control unit 55 performs writing of firmware 52
in the firmware storage unit 51 prepared as an internal memory, update of
the firmware 52, and so forth. In a case of this embodiment, when the
profile information is sent from the host side 30, the firmware storage
control unit 55 updates parameters of the firmware storage unit 51 based
on the profile information. More specifically, when, for example, the
application program A is set in the active state in the host side 30, the
firmware storage control unit 55 rewrites the parameters of the firmware
storage unit 51 with the profile information of the application program
A.

[Schematic Configuration of Mobile Information Terminal]

[0089]FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a schematic overall internal
configuration of the mobile information terminal of this embodiment.
Meanwhile, the mobile information terminal of this embodiment is
constituted by, for example, a high-performance mobile phone terminal, a
tablet terminal, and so forth in which a touch panel including a
transparent touch detecting surface arranged to cover substantially a
whole surface of a display screen, for example.

[0090] In FIG. 10, a communication antenna 101 is, for example, an
internal antenna, and performs transmission/reception of phone calls and
emails via a mobile phone network and a public wireless communication
network, download of various application programs including the
application programs having the profile information of this embodiment,
and transmission/reception of signal radio waves for connecting to the
Internet. An antenna circuit 102 is constituted by an antenna switch, a
matching circuit, a filter circuit, and so forth. A
transmission/reception circuit unit 103 performs frequency conversion,
modulation, and demodulation of signals transmitted and received via the
mobile phone network and the public wireless communication network.

[0091] A speaker 113 is a speaker provided in the mobile information
terminal of this embodiment and is used for, for example, reproduction of
music, output of received audio, output of ringer sound (an ring alert),
and so forth. A microphone 114 is used for collecting external audio and
collecting audio to be transmitted. An audio signal processing unit 112
is constituted by an amplifier circuit for the speaker 113, an amplifier
circuit for the microphone 114, an decompressing/decoding circuit for
decompressing and decoding compressed and encoded audio data supplied
from a control/arithmetic unit 104, a digital/analog conversion circuit
for converting the decompressed/decoded digital audio data into an analog
audio signal, an analog/digital conversion circuit for converting an
analog audio signal input from the microphone 114 into digital audio
data, a compressing/encoding circuit for compressing and encoding the
digital audio signal, and so forth.

[0092] A video signal processing unit 110 is constituted by a
decompressing/decoding circuit for decompressing and decoding compressed
and encoded video data supplied from the control/arithmetic unit 104, a
display panel driving circuit for displaying the decompressed and decoded
digital video and digital broadcast video on a display panel 111, and so
forth. Additionally, in a case of this embodiment, the video signal
processing unit 110 generates video signals for displaying desktop
images, various menu images (such as menu icons in a standby state), a
game image, a software keyboard, and so forth supplied from the
control/arithmetic unit 104 and displays those images on the display
panel 111.

[0093] A key operation unit 116 is constituted by hardware keys disposed
on a casing of the mobile information terminal of this embodiment and a
peripheral circuit thereof. The key operation unit 116 converts an
operation input on the hardware key by a user into an electric signal,
performs amplification and analog/digital conversion on the operation
input signal, and sends the analog/digital-converted operation input data
to the control/arithmetic unit 104.

[0094] An external memory I/F unit 107 is constituted by an
external-memory slot to which and from which an external memory of a
semiconductor storage medium or the like is attached and removed,
respectively, an interface circuit for external memory data
communication, and so forth. The mobile information terminal of this
embodiment can acquire the application programs having the profile
information according to this embodiment, various kinds of data and
application programs through a storage medium, such as an external memory
inserted into the external memory I/F unit 107.

[0095] Meanwhile, in the mobile information terminal of this embodiment,
the profile information may be not only information accompanying the
application program but also information to be acquired alone. In such a
case, the profile information may include application correspondence
information indicating which application program corresponds to the
profile information. The application correspondence information may be
not only usable for one application program but also be usable commonly
for a plurality of application programs. Additionally, the profile
information may be acquired not only by reading out the profile
information stored in the aforementioned memory or the like but also
acquired via various communication networks, such as the Internet.

[0096] An external input/output terminal unit 115 is constituted by, for
example, a connector for connecting a cable when data communication is
performed through the cable, an interface circuit for external data
communication, a charger terminal for charging an internal battery
through a power cable or the like, a charge interface circuit therefor,
and so forth. The mobile information terminal of this embodiment can
acquire, from an external device connected to the external input/output
terminal unit 115, the application programs having the profile
information according to this embodiment, various kinds of data, and
various application programs.

[0097] Meanwhile, the application programs having the profile information
according to this embodiment may be recorded on, for example, a disk
recording medium or other recording media. In this case, the application
program read out from the recording medium by a recording-medium playback
apparatus included in a personal computer or the like, for example, may
be supplied to the external input/output terminal unit 115. Obviously,
the external input/output terminal unit 115 may be directly connected to
the recording-medium playback apparatus and an application program read
out by the playback apparatus may be supplied to the mobile information
terminal of this embodiment.

[0098] A near field communication module 106 is constituted by a
communication antenna for near field radio waves, such as a wireless LAN
and Bluetooth®, and a near field communication circuit. The
application programs having the profile information according to this
embodiment may be acquired through the near filed communication module
106.

[0099] A touch panel 118 corresponds to the above-described touch panel 11
of this embodiment. The touch panel 118 is an input operation unit having
a detection surface on which an operation input by a user can be
detected. The touch panel 118 is constituted by a transparent touch
screen sensor arranged substantially on the whole surface of the display
panel 111. A touch-panel signal processing unit 117 corresponds to the
above-described touch driver 9 of this embodiment. Meanwhile, the touch
panel 118 and the touch-panel signal processing unit 117 in this
embodiment support so-called multi-touch and are not only capable of
detecting the number of contact points of a plurality of touch events but
also can detect, for each contact point, touch duration time, a touch
interval, a moving direction, moving speed, a moving path, and so forth.

[0100] A memory unit 105 is constituted by an internal memory disposed
inside this terminal and a removable card memory. As the removable card
memory, a card storing so-called SIM (Subscriber Identity Module)
information or the like can be given. The internal memory is constituted
by a ROM and a RAM. The ROM stores an OS (operating system), control
programs allowing the control/arithmetic unit 104 to control each unit,
various initial setting values, dictionary data, various kinds of sound
data, application programs having the profile information according to
this embodiment, and so forth. This ROM includes a rewritable ROM, such
as a NAND-type flash memory or an EEPROM (electrically erasable
programmable read-only memory), and can store various kinds of data and
various user setting values. The RAM serves as a work area and a buffer
area when the control/arithmetic unit 104 performs various kinds of data
processing to store data as needed.

[0101] The control/arithmetic unit 104 is constituted by a main CPU
(Central Processing Unit). The control/arithmetic unit 104 controls each
unit, such as the transmission/reception circuit unit 103, the video
signal processing unit 110, the audio signal processing unit 112, the
near field communication module 106, the external memory I/F unit 107,
the external input/output terminal unit 115, the key operation unit 116,
and the touch-panel signal processing unit 117, and performs various
kinds of arithmetic processing as needed. The control/arithmetic unit 104
also executes a control program stored in the memory unit 105 and the
application programs having the profile information according to this
embodiment.

[0102] In addition, the mobile information terminal of this embodiment
obviously includes each component provided in general mobile information
terminals, such as a time-measuring unit that measures a period and time,
a battery that supplies electric power to each unit, a power management
IC that control the electric power of the battery, a digital broadcasting
reception module for receiving digital television broadcasting and
digital radio broadcasting, a non-contact communication module that
performs non-contact communication used by, for example, so-called RFID
(Radio Frequency Identification) and an non-contact IC card, a GPS module
that determines latitude and longitude of a current position of this
terminal using a GPS signal from a GPS (Global Positioning System)
satellite, a camera unit constituted by an imaging device for capturing
still images and moving images, an optical system and a peripheral
circuit thereof, and a light driving circuit for emitting image-shooting
auxiliary light, various sensor units, such as, for example, a gyro
sensor, an acceleration sensor, a direction sensor, a temperature sensor,
a humidity sensor, and an illumination sensor.

CONCLUSION

[0103] As described above, an information processing apparatus according
to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a touch panel unit
that includes a panel surface on which an operation input by a user can
be detected and in which a condition at time of the operation input on
the panel surface is settable as a parameter, an active application
control unit that sets one of a plurality of application programs in an
active state, a profile information acquiring unit that acquires profile
information for optimizing the parameter of the touch panel unit for the
active-state application program, and a parameter updating unit that
updates the parameter of the touch panel unit using the profile
information corresponding to the active-state application program.

[0104] Here, the profile information is included in the application
program. The profile information acquiring unit acquires the profile
information from the active-state application program.

[0105] Additionally, the profile information is prepared for each of the
plurality of application programs. The profile information acquiring unit
acquires the profile information corresponding to the active-state
application program among the plurality of application programs.

[0106] In addition, the parameter is a setting parameter of firmware of
the touch panel unit. The parameter updating unit updates the setting
parameter of the firmware of the touch panel unit using the profile
information.

[0107] Additionally, the profile information is information that sets, as
the parameter, sensitivity for detecting the operation input on the panel
surface of the touch panel unit, a number of times for confirming
detection of the operation input, and a reporting rate at time of
outputting detection information.

[0108] Furthermore, the profile information is information that sets, as
the parameter, a set of coordinate values corresponding to each pixel of
a display panel on which the panel surface of the touch panel unit is
arranged, a threshold of the sensitivity for detecting the operation
input for each of the sets of coordinate values corresponding to the
pixels, the number of times for confirming detection of the operation
input for each of the sets of coordinate values corresponding to the
pixels, and the reporting rate at time of outputting the detection
information for each of the sets of coordinate values corresponding to
the pixels.

[0109] Next, an information processing method according to one embodiment
of the present disclosure includes setting, by an active application
control unit, one of a plurality of application programs in an active
state, acquiring, by a profile information acquiring unit, profile
information for optimizing, for the active-state application program, a
parameter of a touch panel unit in which a condition at time of an
operation input on a panel surface is settable as the parameter, and
updating, by a parameter updating unit, the parameter of the touch panel
unit using the profile information corresponding to the active-state
application program.

[0110] In addition, an information processing program according to one
embodiment of the present disclosure causes a computer of an information
processing apparatus to operate as an active application control unit
that sets one of a plurality of application programs in an active state,
a profile information acquiring unit that acquires profile information
for optimizing, for the active-state application program, a parameter of
a touch panel unit in which a condition at time of an operation input on
a panel surface is settable as the parameter, and a parameter updating
unit that updates the parameter of the touch panel unit using the profile
information corresponding to the active-state application program.

[0111] Additionally, a recording medium according to one embodiment of the
present invention stores an information processing program causing a
computer of an information processing apparatus to operate as an active
application control unit that sets one of a plurality of application
programs in an active state, a profile information acquiring unit that
acquires profile information for optimizing, for the active-state
application program, a parameter of a touch panel unit in which a
condition at time of an operation input on a panel surface is settable as
the parameter, and a parameter updating unit that updates the parameter
of the touch panel unit using the profile information corresponding to
the active-state application program.

[0112] Accordingly, it is possible to optimize operability and a
recognition rate of a touch panel not with a uniform optimization method
intended for supporting existing devices and firmware but as an
integrated system including, for example, a device and an application in
the embodiments of the present invention. More specifically, in
accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, the profile
information is introduced into each application program. The profile
information that optimizes the parameter for the active-state application
program is dynamically downloaded. The parameter of the touch panel is
updated using the profile information. In this way, providing seamless
and optimum usability can be realized.

[0113] Meanwhile, the mobile information terminal of the embodiment can be
not only applied to mobile terminals, such as, for example, a so-called
PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a notebook personal computer, a
portable game machine, a portable navigation terminal in addition to, for
example, a high-function mobile phone terminal, a tablet terminal, or a
slate PC, but also applied to various fixed electronic devices insofar as
the devices include a display panel capable of displaying images and a
touch panel.

[0114] Additionally, the description of the foregoing embodiment is merely
an example of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention
is not limited to the foregoing embodiment. Obviously, the foregoing
embodiment can be variously altered depending on the design or the like
within a scope not departing from the technical idea of the present
invention.

[0115] Furthermore, it should be obviously understood by those skilled in
the art that various modifications, combinations, and other embodiments
may occur depending on design or other factors insofar as they are within
the scope of the claims of the present invention or the equivalents of
the claims.